The Portland daily press., 1887-06-03
CE NERAL PAINE
Talks About the Thistle, the May
flower, the CaIatea and the New
Steel Sloop.

NEW YORK, June 2.-Gen. j. III. Paine Of
Boston, whose military achievements have
been almost forgotten since he has been the
owner of the fastest boat in America, ar
rived in this city last night from Whining
ton, where he has been watching the pro-
gress of the new steel cup defender, and
went at once to the New York Yacht Club
house to pick up the latest yachting gossip.
He replied that the new boat was making
rapid progress, and that she would probably
be ready to launch about the middle of July,
In time to participate in some Of the August
races and regattas. He had heard of the
lnistie's splendid victory, and did not seem
to be in the least surprised. He said
There Is no denying the fact that the
1t seems to me as though the question of
holding the Americas cup in this country
another year IS matter of considerable
doubt The Thistle has proved herself to be
a faster vessel than the fastest English
yacht In the races at least and under
entirely different conditions in each race.
Ihat she does not sail well to windward Just
now cannot be taken as criterion of what
she Will do In the future. A boat is never in
shape Tor windward work until she has been
sailed. month, for it takes that time to
stretch the canvas. OF course we have no
really accurate data to go by yet, but from
all accounts / shonld judge that she is from
!O 10 II minutes faster than the Irex, which
is from 8 to minutes faster than the Gala
TEA. II my reasoning is right, then she is
from 13 70 II minutes faster than the Galatea
and hardly think that there is yacht in
tnls country that can beat Lieut.. Henn's
cutter that much. In the races last fall, the
Mayflower beat the Galatea from IL to IA
minutes, but l have never considered my
sloop more than 10 minutes faster than the
cutter. You must remember that we did NOT
have any cutter weather then, and that
therefore. Lieut.. Henn's boat was placed at
somewhat OF disadvantage. One of the
days we had strong northwest wind and
smooth sea for little time. This was ideal
cutter weather while it lasted, and it was
SAID that the Galatea gained rapidly on the
Mayfower, but the wind soon died out, and
she fell back again.
whether my new boat will be faster than
the Mayfi0wer Is, OF course, mystery. She
is, in sense, somewhat of an experiment
Contrary to scientific rules L am giving her
about 1C0 feet more friction surface than the
Maytower, and shall not increase her sail
area materially. According to science this
would make her slower boat, but | doubt
1t. AS to her having union silk spinnaker
no decision has yet been reached. | have
sent for a sample Of the material and will
consider the matter carefully. The greatest
recommendation for one is that it is used by
the lrex, which regard as the best-managed
yacht in the world. The sails for the new
boat are being made by Wilson & Griffin
here and they will include a spnnaker of
the ordinary material"
General Paine said that he had not vet de-
clded upon a name for the new cup defender.
ne was surprised at the Galatea's signal
victory over the Priscilla and thought that
there might be some reason for it other than
any TO be found In the comparative merits Of
the yachts.